The Saddle Creek Series 5-Book Bundle. Shelley Peterson

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СКАЧАТЬ you think he was trying to scare us into selling him Wick Farm?”

      “Absolutely! His message being that if he could set fireworks he could do a lot more. Obviously we don’t want to sell the whole thing, but we’ll never miss that field. Am I making any sense?”

      “Possibly. It’s worth a try.” She yawned.

      Robert parked his truck beside Owens’ Mercedes. He hustled to open Joy’s door for her.

      “Why are you so darned perky this morning?” she asked.

      Robert winked and escorted her to the big wooden door. “Just watch me,” he whispered confidently. He lifted the evil-looking brass eagle door knocker and knocked three times.

      Within seconds, the door was opened by a small man with a stooped bearing.

      “May I help you?” asked Walter importantly.

      “Yes, thank you,” answered Robert, adjusting his tie.

      He’d dressed with care this morning. “We’re here to see Samuel Owens.”

      Walter looked worried, all trace of bravado instantly gone. “I’m afraid that’s not possible. Mr. Owens is with his doctor.”

      “Is he ill?”

      “No, he’s had another accident.”

      Robert shot Joy a look. Joy raised her eyebrows slightly.

      Walter continued. “May I tell him who is calling on him? He will get in touch with you when he feels up to it.”

      Joy stepped forward, and spoke in a charming, persuasive manner. “I’m sure he’d like to see us now. We’re dear old friends. We’ve come to visit him in his time of need.” She leaned closer. “And you know, don’t you, that he has very few friends. If you turn us away, he’ll have no visitors at all, and I imagine he might not be happy about that.”

      Walter’s face showed indecision. The woman was right, Walter thought. He’d never had visitors before, except Mrs. Casey, and she wasn’t here very much at all anymore, and whenever he did see her she looked unhappy. Might Owens be upset with Walter if he didn’t let them in?

      Using his hesitation to their advantage, Joy bustled through the door. “I missed your name,” she said.

      “W . . . Walter,” he stammered. “But I’m not sure he wants guests.”

      “Of course he does!” Joy brazened on. “Everybody needs a friend when they’re down. Come, Robert, Walter is taking us to see dear Samuel.”

      Faced with this immovable force, Walter was totally defeated. In trepidation, he led them up the grand marble stairs to Owens’ master bedroom.

      The doctor was leaving.

      “Walter, he’ll need a home nurse twice a day to clean and rebandage those wounds. I’ve made arrangements, so expect someone at six this evening. Give him one of these antibiotic pills four times a day until they’re finished.” The young doctor handed Walter a large plastic pill bottle and hurried down the hall. He looked back and took in Robert and Joy. “Good morning,” he said, and ran down the stairs. “I’ll let myself out,” he called over his shoulder, and the door slammed.

      Robert looked at Joy and whispered, “He must be new around here. I’ve never seen him before.”

      “You’ll probably never see him again, either. He was in an awful hurry to leave.”

      “Owens has that effect on people.”

      “Who’s out there?” Owens bellowed from inside the room.

      “Speak of the devil,” murmured Joy.

      “Walter! I don’t want visitors! Walter!”

      Joy put her hand on the shaking arm of the horrified man. “You go. We’ll handle this,” she said soothingly. “Don’t worry, Walter, we’re old friends. We understand his little moods.” Walter clattered down the gracious, curving staircase and disappeared through a door.

      “Get him, Tiger,” said Robert to Joy as he opened the heavy door to the master suite.

      Lying in a luxurious chocolate brown satin-shrouded king-sized bed, propped up with leopard skin-covered pillows of various sizes, with exotic animal skins covering the polished hardwood floor, was Samuel Owens. Bandages covered most of his face and head. The little skin that was visible around his eyes showed tips of red, swollen gashes. His hands were invisible under huge pads of white gauze. What was under the covers was anybody’s guess.

      “Are you all right?” asked Robert, looking pale himself. He hadn’t expected this much damage.

      “Walter! Walter!” Owens barked angrily. His voice was muffled by the bandages and could hardly be heard, which caused him further distress.

      Joy pulled an ocelot footstool over to the bed and sat down. “I’ll get him in a moment, Samuel. We just wanted to pop in to give you our best wishes. We’ll be gone in one minute.” Joy turned to look at Robert, who stood with his hands in his pockets near the door, anxious to leave. “Robert, why don’t you tell Samuel your good news. By the looks of him, he could use some.” Joy smiled kindly at the invalid.

      “Yes. Yes, Joy. Good idea.” Pulling himself together, Robert took one step closer to the bed. “I’ve decided to put my upper field on the market. You can see it from here,” he said, indicating the large bay window with a sweep of his arm. “And since you were interested in buying my property before we went into the theatre business, I thought you should have first crack at it.” Robert rocked back on his heels and waited for a response.

      Owens finally spoke. “No agents.”

      Joy gave Robert a little nod.

      “No agents,” he agreed.

      “Market value. Not a penny more.”

      Robert nodded. “Sounds fair to me.”

      “Deal. Let’s do it now. Bring me that pad of paper.” He looked at his Louis XIV mahogany scrolled desk by the window. Robert lifted the pad and a pen and brought them to the bed.

      “Joy Drake, write this.” Owens dictated.

      Joy did as she was told, and after small changes in the wording, everyone was happy with the result.

      “Now sign,” he ordered Robert. Robert obliged.

      Owens struggled to sit up. He tried unsuccessfully to hold the pen in his mitted hand. After three tries, Joy took pity on him.

      “Samuel, sign it with your mouth.” She placed the pen carefully between his teeth, and Owens signed the contract with an “X.”

      “Since it doesn’t look like your signature, Samuel,” said Joy, “We’ll have to trust that you’ll honour the agreement.”

      Owens glared at her. “Walter will witness it. Get the phone and dial the number СКАЧАТЬ